August 28

Ursicinus of Ravenna (d. c. 303)
Christian Physician Executed for Rejecting Roman Gods

Physician in Ravenna
Ursicinus was a Christian physician of Ravenna, remembered for his healing work and faithful witness during the persecution of Diocletian. Though trained in the art of medicine, he believed the truest healing came through Christ, the great physician of souls.

Accused for His Faith
When decrees demanded that all citizens sacrifice to the Roman gods, Ursicinus refused. His public confession of faith led to accusations before the authorities, who sought to compel him as an example for others.

Struggle and Encouragement
Tradition tells that Ursicinus, at first hesitant, was strengthened by fellow believers to stand firm. He chose faith over fear, openly declaring that he would not betray Christ even under threat of torture.

Martyrdom Around 303
Condemned for his steadfast refusal, Ursicinus was executed by beheading outside Ravenna. His death came during the early waves of Diocletian’s persecution, which claimed many in northern Italy.

Legacy of Ursicinus
Ursicinus was honored as both a physician of the body and a martyr for the faith. Churches in Ravenna and the surrounding region preserved his name, venerating him as a healer who gave his life rather than deny Christ. His relics were later enshrined, strengthening devotion to his memory.

Valens the Martyr (2nd c.)
Layman Who Led Prayer Groups in Asia Minor

Christian Layman of Asia Minor
Valens was a lay Christian in Asia Minor during the 2nd century, remembered for his leadership in prayer and devotion. He did not hold clerical office but became known for gathering believers together in faith.

Leader of Prayer Meetings
Valens organized groups of Christians for prayer and instruction during a time of suspicion toward the church. His courage allowed fellow believers to remain steadfast when public worship was not possible.

Arrest and Trial
Authorities discovered his role in leading these gatherings, and Valens was arrested. He was accused of fostering unlawful assemblies and of refusing to honor the Roman gods.

Martyrdom in the 2nd Century
Valens boldly confessed Christ before the tribunal and was condemned to death. He was executed as a Christian, sealing his witness with his blood.

Legacy of Valens
Valens’s life shows how lay believers contributed to the growth of the church. His courage in leadership and faith in martyrdom made him an enduring example of the priesthood of all believers.

Tryphaena of Cyzicus (1st–2nd c.)
Early Convert Remembered for Hosting Christian Gatherings

Christian Woman of Asia Minor
Tryphaena was an early Christian convert from Cyzicus in Asia Minor, remembered for her faith and hospitality. Tradition associates her with the first generations of believers who spread the gospel across the Roman provinces.

Host of Christian Meetings
Her home became a gathering place for the local Christian community. In an age when churches met in private houses, Tryphaena’s generosity and courage offered refuge for worship and fellowship.

Life of Faith
Tryphaena lived out her discipleship in service to others. She is remembered as a woman of prayer and steadfast devotion, whose hospitality strengthened the early church during times of difficulty.

Connection to the Apostolic Age
Though details of her life are scarce, some traditions suggest she lived not long after the apostles. Her name echoes women greeted by Paul in his letters, who similarly labored alongside the first Christian missionaries.

Legacy of Tryphaena
Tryphaena of Cyzicus is honored as an early example of Christian hospitality and courage. By opening her home and life to the church, she helped sustain a fragile but growing community of faith in Asia Minor.

Eusebius of Laodicea (mid-3rd century)
Bishop Aided Plague Victims, Known for Compassion

Bishop in Syria
Eusebius served as bishop of Laodicea in Syria during the middle of the 3rd century, a period marked by persecution, famine, and plague. He had previously lived in Alexandria, where he witnessed persecution firsthand and cared for suffering Christians before being driven into exile.

Helper of the Afflicted
Eusebius became renowned for his work among the sick and dying during outbreaks of plague. Rather than fleeing danger, he remained with the afflicted, showing compassion through nursing, care, and the strengthening of those near death in both body and spirit.

Defender of the Faith
Before becoming bishop, he had been a presbyter in Alexandria under Bishop Dionysius. When persecution and disease ravaged the city, Eusebius distinguished himself by ministering fearlessly to the wounded and the impoverished, earning respect for his courage and mercy.

Bishop of Laodicea
After his exile from Alexandria, he was chosen bishop of Laodicea. From there he continued to guide Christians with a spirit of charity, remembered more for his acts of service than for theological writings. His episcopacy was defined by pastoral care, humility, and compassion.

Legacy of Eusebius
Eusebius was remembered as a model of Christian mercy in times of crisis. Unlike many who fled danger, he stayed to serve, reflecting Christ’s example of sacrificial love. His name endured in ecclesiastical histories as one who lived the gospel through acts of compassion more than through words.

Thyrsus of Bithynia (d. c. 250)
Refused Idol Sacrifice; Tortured and Beheaded

Christian in Bithynia
Thyrsus was a Christian believer in Bithynia, remembered for his steadfast refusal to sacrifice to idols during the Decian persecution. His courage made him one of the widely honored martyrs of Asia Minor.

Commanded to Sacrifice
When imperial officials demanded that Christians prove loyalty by offering to the gods, Thyrsus refused. He boldly confessed that he worshiped Christ alone, rejecting every attempt to compel him to idolatry.

Cruel Tortures
For his defiance, Thyrsus was subjected to prolonged torture. Accounts describe him as scourged, beaten, and racked, yet he endured with unshaken faith, strengthening those who witnessed his trial.

Beheading Around 250
After failing to break his resolve, the authorities condemned Thyrsus to death. He was finally beheaded, receiving the martyr’s crown during the violent persecutions of Decius.

Legacy of Thyrsus
Thyrsus was honored in Bithynia and beyond as a model of fearless faith. His cult spread through Asia Minor and into Gaul, where churches and relics bore his name, preserving his memory as a steadfast confessor.

Thallus of Jerusalem (2nd c.)
Early Christian Historian Referenced by Others

Historian of the Early Church
Thallus was an early chronicler of events connected with the life of Christ, remembered chiefly because later writers quoted his works. Though his original writings have not survived, fragments preserved by others give a glimpse into his role as one of the earliest Christian historians.

Writings and Chronology
According to citations, Thallus composed a history in Greek that sought to explain events from creation to his own day. He is particularly remembered for a passage where he attempted to account for the darkness at the crucifixion of Jesus as a natural eclipse, later corrected by Christian authors.

Referenced by Julius Africanus
The 3rd-century scholar Julius Africanus cited Thallus when discussing the crucifixion. This shows that Thallus’s work was known and circulated widely enough to be engaged in debates about the historicity of gospel events.

Place in Christian Memory
Though little is known about his life, Thallus is remembered as one of the first outside witnesses to New Testament events. His mention of the crucifixion darkness demonstrates how the gospel story quickly entered historical discussion in the wider world.

Legacy of Thallus
Thallus’s importance lies in his being referenced by later Christian historians as evidence for Christ’s passion. Even though his works are lost, his name endures as a testimony to the early effort to record history in the light of the gospel.

Stratonicus of Singidunum (d. c. 315)
Converted Executioner Who Died for His Faith

Soldier in Singidunum
Stratonicus was a Roman soldier in Singidunum (modern Belgrade, Serbia), remembered for his unexpected conversion to Christ. His role as an executioner brought him face-to-face with persecuted believers during the early 4th century.

Witness to Martyrs
According to tradition, Stratonicus was deeply moved by the courage of the Christians he was tasked to torture and kill. Their patience and steadfast faith inspired him to embrace the gospel himself.

Companion of Hermylus
He is most closely remembered alongside Hermylus, a deacon of Singidunum who was arrested for refusing to sacrifice to idols. Stratonicus encouraged Hermylus in prison, sharing in his sufferings and openly confessing his own newfound faith.

Martyrdom in the Danube
When authorities discovered his conversion, Stratonicus was condemned along with Hermylus. The two were bound together and drowned in the River Danube around 315, sealing their friendship and faith in martyrdom.

Legacy of Stratonicus
Stratonicus became a symbol of how the gospel could reach even the oppressors of the church. Once an executioner, he died as a confessor, remembered in the Balkans as a soldier who laid down his sword for Christ.

Donatus of Thmuis (Early 4th c.)
Egyptian Bishop; Theological Leader in Persecution

Bishop in Lower Egypt
Donatus was bishop of Thmuis, an important city in the Nile Delta of Egypt, during the early 4th century. He succeeded Phileas of Thmuis after his martyrdom and guided the church during a time of trial.

Leader After Persecution
When Phileas was executed in 306 for refusing to renounce Christ, Donatus took up the leadership of the Christian community. He provided encouragement and structure for believers still shaken by years of imperial violence.

Theological Voice
Donatus was recognized for his theological insight, continuing the legacy of his predecessor. He is remembered as one of the bishops whose firmness helped preserve orthodoxy and unity in a time of deep crisis for Egyptian Christianity.

Role in the Church
As bishop, Donatus ensured the stability of the Thmuis church after persecution. His leadership upheld the memory of the martyrs and provided pastoral guidance to Christians who survived imprisonment, exile, or fear.

Legacy of Donatus
Though not as widely known as other bishops of Egypt, Donatus is remembered in ecclesiastical tradition as a steadfast leader. His succession to Phileas placed him within the chain of Egyptian bishops who bore both the scars of persecution and the responsibility of theological leadership.

Soteris of Rome (d. 3rd c.)
Noblewoman Martyred for Living a Christian Life

Noble Family in Rome
Soteris was a Roman noblewoman of the 3rd century, remembered for her faith and her martyrdom. According to tradition, she was related to the family of St. Ambrose of Milan, who later praised her courage and holiness.

Life of Christian Devotion
Despite her noble birth, Soteris chose a life of humility, chastity, and service to Christ. Her reputation for modesty and piety made her an example among the Roman faithful at a time when Christians faced suspicion and hostility.

Accusation and Arrest
During one of the persecutions of the 3rd century, Soteris was seized for her Christian confession. Refusing to abandon her way of life or renounce Christ, she was brought before the authorities for judgment.

Martyrdom in Rome
She was condemned and executed in the city of Rome. The exact details of her death are uncertain, but she is honored as one of the women martyrs whose steadfast witness strengthened the early church.

Legacy of Soteris
Soteris was remembered in Roman and later Christian tradition as an ancestor of St. Ambrose and as a model of noble faith. Her story reflects how the gospel transformed households of influence, raising up women of courage and holiness.

Sabas of Syria (d. 3rd c.)
Hermit Martyred for Refusing to Serve the Army Gods

Hermit in Syria
Sabas was a Christian hermit in Syria during the 3rd century, remembered for his solitary devotion and witness under persecution. He withdrew from worldly life to live in prayer, fasting, and simplicity, consecrated wholly to Christ.

Confrontation with Authorities
When soldiers demanded that he offer sacrifice to the army gods, Sabas refused. His loyalty to Christ would not allow him to compromise with idolatry, even under threat of torture and death.

Torture for His Confession
Sabas endured cruel tortures for his steadfast refusal. Despite suffering, he declared that Christ alone was Lord and that he could not betray the faith he had embraced in his solitude.

Martyrdom in the 3rd Century
Condemned for his defiance, Sabas was executed, sealing his witness with blood. His martyrdom testified that even those living in solitude were called to confess Christ openly when pressed by the world.

Legacy of Sabas
The memory of Sabas was preserved in the traditions of Syria, where he was honored as both hermit and martyr. His life reflected the union of ascetic devotion and public witness, a pattern that inspired later generations of monastic Christians.

Pontia of Gaul (2nd c.)
Woman of Faith Who Funded Christian Baptisms

Christian Woman in Gaul
Pontia was a woman of faith in Roman Gaul during the 2nd century, remembered for her devotion to the early church. Though details of her life are scarce, tradition records her generosity in sustaining the Christian community.

Support for Baptisms
Pontia used her wealth to fund baptisms, ensuring that new believers could enter the faith with dignity and care. At a time when Christians were often poor or persecuted, her support allowed many to receive the sacrament without hindrance.

Quiet Service to the Church
Her role was not in public teaching or leadership, but in the hidden ministry of service. By providing resources, she strengthened the growth of the community and helped establish Christian households of faith in Gaul.

Witness of Faith
Though not recorded as a martyr, Pontia’s generosity itself was a form of witness. Her life showed how women in the early church consecrated their means to Christ and his people.

Legacy of Pontia
Pontia’s memory was preserved in local traditions of Gaul as an example of faithful generosity. She is honored as one who ensured that the life-giving waters of baptism were available to many.

Placidus of Sicily (d. c. 304)
Nobleman Martyred with Siblings and Christian Servants

Noble Birth in Sicily
Placidus was a young nobleman of Sicily who embraced the Christian faith and devoted his household to Christ. His family background gave him influence, but he chose to live in humility and service of the gospel.

Household of Believers
Along with his brothers, sisters, and many of his household servants, Placidus lived as a Christian community. Together, they practiced charity, prayer, and hospitality, forming a circle of disciples bound by faith.

Persecution Under Diocletian
When Diocletian’s persecution swept across the empire, Placidus and his companions were arrested. Their refusal to renounce Christ or offer sacrifice to the Roman gods brought them before the authorities.

Martyrdom Around 304
Placidus, his siblings, and his faithful servants were tortured and executed in Sicily. Their deaths bore witness not only to individual courage but also to the unity of Christian households who stood together in persecution.

Legacy of Placidus
The story of Placidus spread in both Eastern and Western traditions, where he was honored as a nobleman-martyr. His example, alongside his family and companions, symbolized the strength of entire Christian households giving their lives for the Lord.

Photina of Samaria (1st century)
Woman at the Well, Martyred Under Nero

Encounter with Christ
Photina is identified in Christian tradition as the Samaritan woman who met Jesus at Jacob’s well in Sychar, as told in John 4. In that encounter, she recognized Him as the Messiah and became a witness to her townspeople, leading many to believe in Christ.

Conversion and Mission
After her conversion, Photina is said to have been baptized with her household and to have become a zealous missionary. Traditions report that she traveled to Carthage, Asia Minor, and even Rome, proclaiming the gospel with boldness.

Witness in Rome
During Nero’s reign, Photina and her companions were brought before the emperor. When questioned, she openly confessed Christ, refusing all offers to renounce her faith or sacrifice to idols.

Martyrdom Under Nero
According to tradition, Photina was tortured and eventually executed in Rome. Some accounts say she was thrown into a dry well, a symbolic end for the one whose life was changed at a well of living water.

Legacy of Photina
Photina is venerated in both Eastern and Western traditions as a saint and martyr. In the East, she is remembered as “equal to the apostles,” while in the West, she is honored as one of the great female witnesses of the first generation of believers.

Serapia of Antioch (d. 120s)
Converted Noblewoman, Slave of Sabina, Martyred

Noble Birth and Conversion
Serapia was born in Antioch of a noble family, but chose the Christian faith in her youth. Rejecting worldly privilege, she dedicated her life to Christ in chastity and service.

Flight to Rome
During a period of unrest and persecution in Antioch, Serapia traveled to Rome. There she entered the household of Sabina, a wealthy Roman matron, and won her mistress to the Christian faith.

Servant and Witness
Though a servant in Sabina’s home, Serapia became a spiritual teacher and example. Her life of prayer and devotion inspired Sabina to embrace Christianity fully and to join her in charitable works for the poor and persecuted.

Martyrdom in the 120s
Under Emperor Hadrian, Serapia was arrested and condemned for her faith. Refusing to renounce Christ, she was scourged, tortured, and finally executed—tradition says by beheading—around the year 126.

Legacy of Serapia
Serapia’s faith not only won her martyr’s crown but also gave the church another witness in her mistress, Sabina, who herself was later honored as a saint. Together, they are remembered as examples of how the gospel transcended social class and status.

Lucius of Chur (fl. 3rd century)
First Bishop of Chur, Switzerland

Early Bishop in Rhaetia
Lucius is remembered as the first bishop of Chur, one of the earliest Christian centers in present-day Switzerland. Tradition places his ministry in the 3rd century, when Christianity was beginning to spread across the Roman provinces of Rhaetia.

Missionary Beginnings
According to local tradition, Lucius brought the gospel into the Alpine regions and organized the first Christian communities. His work established the foundation of what would later become one of the oldest dioceses north of the Alps.

Leadership in the Church
As bishop, Lucius guided a fledgling Christian flock in a frontier province of the Roman Empire. His leadership was marked by pastoral care, the establishment of worship, and encouragement of believers during times of uncertainty.

Tradition and Veneration
Though historical details are scarce, Lucius was venerated as a saint in the diocese of Chur. Later generations preserved his name in local calendars and church memory as a pioneering figure of Swiss Christianity.

Legacy of Lucius
Lucius of Chur is honored as a founder of the church in the Alpine regions. His example symbolizes the missionary expansion of Christianity beyond the Mediterranean heartlands into the distant provinces of the empire.

Philoromus of Alexandria (d. c. 304)
Roman Magistrate Executed, Refused to Renounce Christ

Official in Alexandria
Philoromus was a Roman magistrate in Alexandria during the Diocletianic persecution, remembered for his courage in confessing Christ. Though he held an honored civil office, his highest loyalty was to the Lord.

Summoned to Judgment
When ordered to carry out sacrifices to the Roman gods, Philoromus refused. His position made his refusal especially scandalous to the authorities, as it showed that even high-ranking officials rejected the emperor’s decrees.

Confession of Faith
Philoromus openly declared himself a Christian before the tribunal. He would not deny Christ, even when threatened with the loss of office, privilege, and his life.

Martyrdom Around 304
Philoromus was condemned to death and executed, likely by beheading, in Alexandria. His courage marked him as one of the prominent martyrs of Egypt during this violent wave of persecution.

Legacy of Philoromus
The church honored Philoromus as a witness that wealth, honor, and rank were nothing compared to Christ. His example strengthened both officials and ordinary believers, showing that fidelity to the gospel was worth more than any imperial favor.

Pelagia of Antioch (d. c. 303)
Virgin Martyr Known for Purity and Fearless Faith

Young Virgin in Antioch
Pelagia was a Christian virgin from Antioch who lived during the time of the Diocletianic persecution. Her youth, purity, and devotion to Christ made her a well-known figure in the church’s memory of martyrdom.

Accused for Her Faith
When imperial decrees demanded that Christians sacrifice to the Roman gods, Pelagia refused. Her steadfastness and visible witness brought her before the authorities, where she boldly confessed that she belonged to Christ alone.

Refusal of Marriage and Idolatry
Tradition records that Pelagia rejected proposals of marriage from pagan officials, choosing instead to dedicate herself to Christ. This defiance of worldly honor and idolatry intensified the anger of her persecutors.

Martyrdom in Antioch
Pelagia was condemned to death and executed around the year 303. Though details of her death vary in different accounts, her witness was preserved as one of the early virgin martyrs of the East.

Legacy of Pelagia
Pelagia was honored widely in both Eastern and Western churches as a model of purity and fearless faith. Her name was remembered in martyrologies, and she became a symbol of young women who courageously confessed Christ even unto death.

Paulina of Rome (early 3rd c.)
Christian Widow, Gave Away Her Wealth, Roman Martyr

Widow in the Roman Church
Paulina was a Christian widow in Rome during the early 3rd century, remembered for her generosity and devotion to Christ. After the death of her husband, she dedicated herself to serving the church and the poor.

Charity and Service
Paulina distributed her wealth to aid persecuted believers, prisoners, and widows. Her household became a refuge for the suffering, and her acts of mercy made her widely known among the faithful.

Arrest and Accusation
Because of her support of Christians, Paulina was accused before the authorities. Refusing to renounce Christ or to cease her acts of charity, she was condemned under the laws that forbade aiding the persecuted church.

Martyrdom in Rome
Paulina was executed for her confession of Christ and her service to His people. Tradition holds that she suffered death during one of the local crackdowns against Christians in the city, joining the company of martyrs.

Legacy of Paulina
Paulina was honored as a model of Christian widowhood—devoted to prayer, charity, and courage in faith. Her willingness to part with wealth and life itself made her an enduring example of sacrificial discipleship.

Olympias of Antioch (d. 3rd c.)
Gave Her Fortune to Christians, Exiled and Executed

Wealthy Christian of Antioch
Olympias was a Christian woman of Antioch in the 3rd century, remembered for her generosity and courage during persecution. Born into wealth, she dedicated her fortune to supporting fellow believers and aiding the poor.

Supporter of the Persecuted
When Christians were imprisoned or condemned, Olympias used her resources to provide them with food, clothing, and ransom. Her open acts of charity made her a target for suspicion among Roman authorities.

Exile from Antioch
Accused of aiding the church and defying imperial decrees, Olympias was banished from her city. Her exile reflected the growing pressure against wealthy Christians who used their influence to sustain the faithful.

Martyrdom by Execution
Even after exile, she continued to confess Christ. Refusing to renounce her faith, Olympias was eventually seized again and executed, joining the martyrs of the 3rd century.

Legacy of Olympias
Olympias was remembered in Antioch as a woman who used her wealth for the kingdom of God. Her life became a model of how resources and influence could be consecrated to Christ, even at the cost of death.

Nemesion of Alexandria (d. 250s)
Egyptian Christian Wrongly Accused, Executed Beside Robbers

Believer in Alexandria
Nemesion was a Christian man from Alexandria who suffered during the Decian persecution in the mid-3rd century. His steadfast faith placed him among those targeted in one of the fiercest waves of hostility against the church.

Wrongful Accusation
He was first accused by informers of being guilty of theft. When his innocence was proven, his accusers turned to the greater charge—that he was a follower of Christ—and presented him to the Roman governor.

Confession of Christ
Nemesion openly confessed that he was a Christian. The governor condemned him, not for robbery, but for belonging to the church, and sentenced him to die alongside common criminals.

Martyrdom in the 250s
He was executed by fire in Alexandria, placed beside robbers to intensify his humiliation. Yet his endurance transformed shame into glory, as he willingly bore dishonor for the sake of Christ.

Legacy of Nemesion
Nemesion was remembered as one whose innocence in worldly charges highlighted his true confession in Christ. His witness, preserved by Dionysius of Alexandria, showed how God’s servants triumphed even when falsely accused and dishonored by men.